When Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana opens at 361 Post Road West — formerly the Naan restaurant — on June 1, it may seem like an Italian restaurant replacing an Indian one. (Which previously took over from Kibberia, a Middle Eastern spot.)
Residents with longer memories will recall that for many years, the space was occupied by John’s Best Pizza. So — like a big pizza pie — things are coming full circle.
But Frank Pepe has been around the block far longer than John’s Best. The “Original New Haven Apizza” place opened in 1925, on Wooster Street.
The Westport location — its 18th nationally, and 9th in Connecticut –features a large coal-fired oven, enclosed with a cast iron door that matches the original one in New Haven location. The dining room seats 110.
Frank Pepe Pizzeria will be open every day, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Takeout, delivery and catering ordering is available here. Diners get $10 in their account by signing up signing up here, or downloading the Frank Pepe Pizzeria app.
Tomorrow (Wednesday, May 20, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium), the Board of Finance will set the town’s mill/tax rate.
That’s item 6 on the agenda. They’ll also hear:
A request for additional funds to cover legal expenses, due to an atypical cost overrun. The item allows residents to glimpse the type of litigation the town faces (agenda item 8).
Funding to prepare the 2027 Plan of Conservation and Development. The state requires each town to create this, every 10 years. The POCD is important, as Westport thinks about housing in the years ahead (agenda item 9).
In addition, the Board of Finance will hold office hours this Thursday (May 21, 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.), Westport Library room 213). The public is invited to meet a member, and ask questions about any aspect of the board, and public finances.
Railroad station parking permits expire on June 30.
To renew a railroad permit, click here. Then click the “Permit” icon at the top of the page. Double-check that your email address is correct.
All renewals are online, or dropped off in the Police Department lobby. Drop-offs require cash or a check made out to “Town of Westport – Railroad Parking,” and a copy of the current vehicle registration(s). The Police lobby is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Time to renew! (Photo/Elle Bowe)
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Weston 1st Selectwoman Sam Nestor took a big step toward a new job last night.
She earned the Democratic Party endorsement to run for the State Senate’s 26th District. She captured 48 delegate votes, nearly twice as many as State Representative Lucy Dathan. A primary is set for August 11.
The winner will face a Republican opponent in November: Westporter Alma Sarelli.
Prospect Gardens — the spectacular 9-acre arboretum-style Greens Farms space featuring flowers, plants — is open to public on Sunday, May 31 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). The event is a partnership with the national Garden Conservancy.
Main garden designers Cindy Shumate and Judy Gardner will there all day, telling stories and answering questions.
Greens Farms Garden Club members will explain how they plant, tend and harvest the 3-tiered vegetable garden. Last season, their harvest of over 1000 pounds was donated to local organizations that feed families in need.
Prospect Gardens dates back to an 1812 Victorian farmhouse and onion farm. Property acquisitions over the past 20 years have created the current gardens. Mature deciduous and evergreen trees create a sweeping canvas.
Key features include a Mediterranean entry garden, 2 orchards, berry houses, bee hives, perennial garden, shady woodland walk, conifer collection, numerous flowering shrub and grass borders, a Japanese-inspired meditation garden and maple collection, citrus and cacti, a glasshouse, sculptures, 1-acre perennial/ native wildflower meadow, and a 4-tiered grassy amphitheater with a stone-medallioned stage.
The Staples high School Jazz Ensemble plays at 10:30 a.m. They’ll be fresh off an appearance 2 days earlier at New York’s Birdland Club.
The Westport Weston Domestic Violence Task Force is collecting items for their Crisis Center.
They need toothbrushes, toothpaste, menstrual products, deodorant, lotion, soap and body wash, shaving gel, shampoo and conditioner, and hair care products.
Drop-off locations are the Westport and Weston police stations.
To purchase items directly through an Amazon wish list, click here.
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Anyone can get scammed.
Before scammers hack your accounts, they hack your emotions.
In response, Westport’s E3 Wealth Advisory Group is sponsoring a 30-minute webinar. Attendees will learn how to recognize emotional manipulation, before they react.
It’s repeated 4 times: 12 noon and 2 p.m., tomorrow (Wednesday, May 20) and next Wednesday (May 27). Click here to register.
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Singer Melissa Newman — Westport’s own, and a Jazz at the Post favorite — kicks off their first-ever Voices of Spring festival this Thursday (May 21, shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner from 7; VFW Post 399).
Hundreds of man’s best friends fetched their humans to Winslow Park yesterday.
The 10th annual Dog Festival was blessed with the best weather in months.
The guests of honor were blessed with an obstacle course, contests, treats, and the chance to sniff more other dogs (and people) than they ever dreamed possible.
“06880” photographer Quinn Fitts trotted down to the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce event.
Though every dog has its day, she unfortunately could not capture all of them. Here are some favorites:
(If it’s a story involving humans or animals — or the beach, a bridge, or anything else in town — you’ll read all about it on “06880.” We rely on reader support, so please click here to help. Thank you!)
We’re a week away from the 53rd annual Fine Arts Festival.
Across North America, over 150 artists are preparing to come to Westport, and show their work.
Selected from over 320 applications, and representing 12 categories, they come from 23 states and Canada. 27 are from Connecticut — 6 from right here in 06880.
All 2025 award winners return. Click here for a full list. Meanwhile, a record 52 artists make their Fine Arts Festival debut.
New this year: a very cool art activation. Staples High School art students will paint a BMW in the family area (Sigrid Schultz parking lot).
Two new judges join the panel: art enthusiasts Lonnie Quinn (CBS weatherman) and Louise Crowley.
Longshore Capital Improvement Plan update – Maintenance facility building update.
One possibility for the enclosed dog run at Winslow Park.
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The Levitt Pavilion announced a torrent of new shows this week — both free and ticketed.
The Revivalists rock on August 11. One of the most uplifting live acts in music today, their current tour includes the Grand Ole Opry, part of the FIFA World Cup, Red Rocks Amphitheatre — and a return to the banks of the Saugatuck. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Also booked:
May 29: An album release concert by Amani Burnham (first free show of the ’26 season). The 20-year-old Ethiopian-born, Connecticut-based artist has amassed more than 240,000 followers and nearly 30 million views on social media. Amani and his band will make their Levitt Pavilion debut while celebrating their debut album and set sail as the first free show of the 2026 season! Pretty auspicious!
June 7: Jumaane Smith Jazz Quartet. Lauded by Michael Bublé (with whom he tours). Wynton Marsalis (coming to the Levitt on June 28) was his trumpet teacher at Juilliard.
Hard to believe: This is the 25th anniversary of “Shrek.”
Not hard to believe: The Westport Library is celebrating the milestone.
On Tuesday (May 19, 7 p.m.; $10), co-writer Roger S.H. Schulman takes the audience behind the scenes. He’ll discuss his journey from journalism to Hollywood and the classroom. Click here to register, and for more information.
To learn more about the mechanics of screenwriting, Schulman offers a Verso University workshop on “Writing Compelling Characters.” Click here for details.
The bakery — founded by Westporters Bill and Andrea Pecoriello, which trains and employs people with disabilities (who make great stuff) — is raising money for the Hype 4 Life Foundation, an autism awareness non-profit.
They’ll send 2 winners (and plus-ones) to the Brian Burns Celebrity Softball Game May 30 in Pomona, New York. The football star and current Giants play Brandon Jacobs and Super Bowl XLII and XLVI champions, and other legends. Over 100 current and former NFL players will be on the field, competing in softball, a home run derby and (why not?) dodgeball.
Just in time for Memorial Day: the construction trailer — part of the Soundview parking lot staging area, for the Compo Cove tidal gate renovation project — has been hauled away.
Those parking spaces will be needed soon.
Maybe very soon. Sunday’s high temperature is forecast to be 86.
And finally … Soul singer/guitaristClarence Carter died Wednesday in Atlanta. He was 90, and had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The New York Times said, “Blind from youth and distinguished by his deep, declamatory baritone and lecherous, full-throated laugh, Mr. Carter combined the sermonic fervor of a backwoods preacher and the bawdy humor of a juke joint.” Click here for a full obituary.
(Sure, it’s the weekend. But “06880” keeps pumping out these Roundups like there’s no tomorrow. If you enjoy our 24/7/365 work, please show your support by clicking here. Thank you!)
Today, she and Representative Town Meeting member Andrew Colabella offer an update, clarifying some misconceptions about the idea.
Since the story was published, we’ve continued working with the Parks & Recreation Department and Planning & Zoning Commission, to develop a thoughtful proposal for a fenced-in dog park at Winslow.
With help from “06880” and Westport Moms, we conducted a community survey. We received over 700 responses, with 73% supporting a fenced-in dog park in Westport.
We recently presented the proposal to both commissions, and shared our vision for “Dogport.”
A suggested area for the “Dogport” is the area near Compo Road North, which served as the staging area for a recent nearby sewer project.
A key part of the plan is that the space would not be an unregulated open area. Access would be controlled through a secure key fob system, allowing only registered users with vaccinated dogs to enter. This creates accountability, encourages responsible use, and allows the town to enforce rules if needed.
Unfortunately, some concerns appear to be based on misunderstandings or rumors — including claims that the entire park would be fenced in, or that the space would resemble a “kennel.”
In reality, the proposal involves fencing in one specific section of Winslow to create a safe off-leash area. The rest of the park would remain completely unchanged.
Andrew has spent considerable time meeting with regular Winslow users to explain the proposal, answer questions, and hear feedback firsthand. We’ve found that many residents become supportive once they understand what is actually being proposed.
Only one section of Winslow Park is proposed for the Dogport. The rest of the 29-acre site would remain open. (Photo/Mark Mathias)
For decades, Winslow has been a gathering place for dog owners. However, the lack of an enclosed area and the park’s proximity to Compo Road North create safety concerns for many residents. A fenced-in section would provide a safer, more organized environment while still preserving the park’s existing recreational uses and open-space character.
After reviewing multiple possible locations with town officials, the proposed site emerged as the most practical and least disruptive option. The area is already graded, easier to maintain, and would not interfere with current park activities.
Throughout this process we’ve worked hard to listen to feedback, answer concerns, and approach this responsibly. We truly believe Dogport would be a meaningful, well-managed addition to the community.
Proposed Dogport rules include:
Sunrise to sunset hours
Secure key fob access for registered members only
Dogs must be licensed, vaccinated and registered
Maximum of 3 dogs per person
Dogs must be leashed entering and exiting
Owners must clean up after their dogs
Repeated violations could result in revoked access
A sign like this might be placed at the proposed “Dogport.”
We will have a table at the Westport Dog Festival on May 17, to sell Dogport merch. Here is the link to the merch for anyone who would like to donate!
Thank you for helping bring attention to this project and move the conversation forward.
NOTE: Renderings are only conceptual — not final designs. Official schematic plans are underway.
(“06880″‘s Opinion pages are open to all. Please email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com. To support this hyper-local blog, please click here. Thank you!)
Effective today (May 15), the use of hand-held and backpack gas-powered leaf blowers is prohibited. The ban is effective through October 15.
Conservation Department director Colin Kelly says, “Let’s keep up the efforts to follow this ordinance. Let us know by email or letter if a property is using a prohibited blower. We will follow up by reviewing each complaint and sending educational materials to those who are not adhering to the ordinance.”
Contact the Conservation Office by email at leafblowercomplaints@westportct.gov, or write Conservation Department, 110 Myrtle Avenue, Westport, CT 06880.
This is also the time of year for beach water testing.
But long closures — like those seen last year — may be a thing of the past.
Aspetuck Health District and the town of Westport will begin Monday, with enhanced testing and reporting protocols.
The Health District will collect samples every Monday morning from Compo and Burying Hill Beaches. They will go to the Department of Public Health Laboratory in Rocky Hill for analysis.
If bacteria levels are high, the water will be closed for swimming and other water activities. The water will be immediately resampled, and sent to the City of Stamford Laboratory for analysis.
This decreases turnaround time. and enable officials to lift closures faster than in previous years.
“Safety is our top priority. says Aspetuck Health District director of health Luci Bango.
“Beach water is sampled weekly during the season to monitor harmful bacteria or the potential presence of pathogens. These tests help us decide when to close waters for swimming and other water activities, to reduce the risk of illnesses like gastrointestinal distress, skin rashes, or ear infection.”
Elevated bacterial levels in water bodies can occur during excessive heat or rainfall.
Burying Hill Beach, last summer. (Photo/Seth Schachter)
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Hundreds of dogs — and even more humans — will enjoy this Sunday’s Dog Festival at Winslow Park.
It’s fun for everyone. But note: Parking is not available at the Westport Country Playhouse. That lot is reserved for attendees of a youth ballet performance, and patrons of Gabriele’s Steakhouse.
Businesses west of the Mobil station on Post Road East will open their parking lots for festival attendees. Saugatuck Congregational Church is available beginning at noon,, after services.
Parking locations will be marked with signs along Post Road.
Meanwhile, WTF has put together a list of items to support their work — everything from plant labels and markers to garden seeders. Click here to order via Amazon.
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Congratulations, Sophie Rossman!
The 2021 Staples High School and NYU Tisch Drama graduate is making her Off-Broadway debut in “Dad Don’t Read This.” The show, at the St. Luke’s Theatre, has been extended to May 29.
The coming-of-age story centers on 4 teenage girls navigating friendship, identity, and the confusing transition into adulthood. Set during a series of suburban sleepovers, it’s both humorous and emotionally honest. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Sophie Rossman, in “Dad Don’t Read This.”
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Speaking of debuts: Sara Robbin is a former attorney. She spent over a decade as a writing professor at Fordham Law School before finding her niche assisting students with college essays.
Now the Westporter adds “screenwriter” to her resume. “Pinky Swear” premiered Monday at the Angelika Theater, as part of the Big Apple Film Festival.
It offers a window into the complex emotions fame causes for children. The film was inspired by Sara’s acting experiences with her daughter Chloe, a Bedford Middle School student, who is part of the cast.
The role of a “crazy stage mom” is played by Westport native Ashley Schoff Iglehart, a former child actor. Her daughter Harper, a 10th grade Staples Player, assisted on set.
The cast and crew, including Chloe Robbin (3rd from left), Ashley Schoff Iglehart (in black, behind her), and Sarah Robbin (blue).
Michael Tomashefsky has lived in Westport for 32 years. He spent a career in trade magazine advertising, focusing on development media for Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.
He has also had side hustles in standup comedy, writing for a rock ‘n’ roll magazine, and landscape photography. Since retiring 2 years ago, he has given landscape and travel presentations of his photos at senior centers and senior communities throughout the area.
Westport never ceases to provide Michael with photography inspiration, included the Parker Harding Plaza footbridge. He writes:
It sits there day after day, year after year, forlorn, neglected, nearly forgotten and overshadowed by the controversy surrounding its larger brother, the Cribari Bridge.
The Parker Harding footbridge … (Photo/John Maloney)
Lord knows, Westport faces many pressing issues — including the future status of that Cribari Bridge, the lack of affordable housing, not enough bike lanes and sidewalks, anemic downtown parking, a disturbing lack of Albanian restaurants, and absolutely no master plan for dealing with a Martian attack.
I would like to raise our collective consciousness by adding to this list the head-scratching demise of the footbridge behind Parker Harding.
The artfully designed wooden plank walkway that juts out into the Saugatuck River has been closed for several years, presumably because it became unsafe.
Prior to that it offered splendid all-season views of the surrounding wetlands, the river, and downtown Westport. It was a haven for photographers, birders, lovers making out and folks simply looking to enjoy the views.
It was one of many attributes that made Westport a special place to live.
Unfortunately, those of us who used to revel in the footbridge’s many delights must continue to stew in season after season of our discontent. It is a classic case of anti-footbridgeloverism.
… with its “Do Not Enter” sign. (Photo/Michael Tomashefsky)
The Public Works Department has advised me that the footbridge is officially on the property of Gorham Island, and repairs are under their jurisdiction.
The agency that manages the property confirmed this, and advised me they would do a cost analysis re making repairs in the next couple of months.
As private money, corporate bureaucracy and state regulations would be involved as well, I doubt we’ll see an open footbridge any time soon.
But heck — if the citizens of Westport could stop the building of a nuclear power plant on Cockenoe Island, surely, we can get the Parker Harding footbridge open.
Citizens unite!
(“06880″‘s Opinion pages are open to all. Email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com. To support this hyper-local blog, please click here.)
Hey, Westport: There’s a problem in town. Recycling contamination is rampant.
Sp the Department of Public Works has launched a campaign to educate residents on proper practices.
Six days a week, residents and private haulers bring recyclables to the transfer station. The next stop is a waste recovery facility in Shelton, where it’s sorted, then sold as commodities to manufacturers for reuse.
Some materials arrive clean, dry and loose. Others don’t. Containers filled with leftover food and cardboard boxes still packed with Styrofoam are common issues.
Small changes can make a big difference.
The 3 major sources of contamination are easy to remember: “No Bags, No Food, No Foam.”
No Bags: Never place recyclables in plastic bags. Although it may seem convenient, all bagged recycling must be discarded at the Materials Recovery Facility due to OSHA safety regulations.
No Food: Empty and rinse all containers before recycling. Food and liquid residue can contaminate entire loads, causing them to be rejected.
No Foam: Styrofoam cannot be recycled in our area. Dispose of it in the trash, and remove packing materials from boxes before recycling them. Styrofoam easily breaks apart and spreads, contaminating other recyclables.
DPW director Pete Ratkiewich says, “Improper recycling creates additional processing costs for the town — costs that are ultimately passed on to residents. By following these simple guidelines, you can help keep Westport’s recycling program efficient and cost-effective.”
Rinse thoroughly before recycling!
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Yesterday’s item about tickets for Staples High School’s Pops Concert (Friday, June 5), included confusing information on the day tickets are available online.
You can order tickets beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 22. Click here for the link. Remember: first-come, first-served!
At Staples High School he was the 1999 Gatorade High School Soccer Player of the Year. He was MLS Rookie of the Year, and earned 8 caps with the US men’s national team. He’s one of the best soccer broadcasters around, and the inventor of Goalpher, an innovation that turns basketball courts into mini-pitches.
Oh, yeah: Kyle, who now lives back in Westport, also created Street FC. They host street-style pickup games in unexpected spaces, from basketball and tennis courts to rooftops and empty lots, making it easy for anyone to show up and play.
Who showed up the other day with Kyle, on a Bronx street?
Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Wearing an Arsenal jersey, he joined Kyle — and a gang of kids — in an impromptu game.
Former Tree Board chair Dick Fincher died in 2024. Over many decades he contributed greatly to Westport, in many ways.
One was as a driving force behind the Lillian Wadsworth Arboretum, adjacent to Earthplace and just a few steps from his Old Hill home.
Soon, the Tree Board will honor him with a plaque, celebrating his dedication and love in creating the 12-acre park, then maintaining and caring for it.
Volunteers will reclaim a small area overtaken by invasives. Fittingly, it’s a spot Dick often watered, tending to daffodils and jack-in-the-pulpits.
Dick Fincher, at the Wadsworth Arboretum. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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The “Shake It For Shea” online auction is now live.
Whether you’ll be at tomorrow’s 4th annual gala (Thursday, 7:30 p.m., The Knowlton, Bridgeport) to raise money for Long QT Syndrome research at Mayo Clinic through Project Shea — Westporter Mark and Kira Greenfield’s great cause — or not, everyone can click here to bid.
Highlights include:
Golf: Grove XXIII, Winged Foot, Sleepy Hollow, Quaker Ridge, Philadelphia Cricket Club and more.
New York Knicks: First row seats at Madison Square Garden, a private shooting clinic at your home court with Allan Houston, a round of golf with John Starks and Larry, or watching a road game alongside Stephon Marbury.
Entertainment: A live taping of “Watch What Happens Live” with Andy Cohen, 2 tickets to “& Juliet” on Broadway, a “Dancing with the Stars” taping, or VIP access to a closed-door Broadway show reading.
Dining: Dinner for 4 at Carbone NYC, the tasting menu at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, an 8-person in-home dinner cooked by celebrity chef Chris Nirschel, and more.
Travel: A week in a brand-new 4-bedroom villa in Cap Cana with a private chef and staff, plus stays at Ocean House, Brazilian Court Palm Beach, Plaza Athenee, Commodore Perry Estate, and more.
Sports memorabilia: Authenticated autographed pieces from Eli Manning, Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, Malik Nabers, Ray Lewis, Cal Raleigh, Paul Skenes and many more.
And those are just some of the great items.
Every dollar raised goes toward Long QT Syndrome research at Mayo Clinic through Project Shea.
The Shake It For Shea fundraiser.
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There’s plenty of purple in the photo above — and a ton of fuchsia in the “Westport … Naturally” image below:
And finally … happy 76th birthday to the great (and ageless) Stevie Wonder!
We could have picked dozens of great songs. Here are just 3:
(It would be “wonder”-ful if every reader supported “06880.” Or just half! Or a quarter, even. Please click here to show some love for this hyper-local blog. Thank you!)
A new community garden at Burr Farms. At least 2 synthetic turf fields. Some upgrades to Compo Beach and Winslow Park. A dedicated maintenance facility.
Those were some of the key “Phase I” recommendations for Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department, offered last night as part of the new Parks Master Plan.
The Town Hall event was the third public session for BL Companies, the consultants who have undertaken an independent review of the town’s beaches, parks and playing fields.
Thirty residents — including a number of elected officials — heard Dominick Celtruda offer a “10,000-foot” view of current facilities and operations, and 3 phases for the future.
Parks & Recreation director Erik Barbieri, last night at Town Hall. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Specifically, Phase I priorities involve:
Infrastructure upgrades, including maintenance; a multi-purpose field at the Doubleday complex, and a minimum of 2 synthetic fields. BL Companies urges a balance between natural grass and artificial turf surfaces.
The Community Garden at Burr Farms would share space with a 50 x 70 multi-purpose athletic field, as well as restroom facilities for gardeners and field users.
Upgraded trails and a dedicated dog area at Winslow Park.
At Compo Beach: Upgraded pickleball (site TBD), a relocated skate park, reconfigured internal circulation, and dune restoration.
Phase II would include Baron’s South — for example upgraded access, vegetation management, removal of invasives, and a small percentage of space dedicated to semi-active recreation.
Phase III would focus on Luciano Park, Jesup Green, other parks, and the Town Hall athletic fields.
Celtruda emphasized that these are recommendations only. Parks & Recreation director Erik Barbieri noted that while BL offers important insights, he “may not necessarily agree” with all of the recommendations, or their timing.
“Nothing is set in stone,” he noted. His department, and the Parks & Recreation Commission, will continue to assess the report.
Mark Mathias reports this potentially life-saving development: “Yesterday morning in Winslow Park, I saw a pleasant surprise. An AED is in its weatherproof container, which has been empty for what I think is a couple of years.”
(An Automated External Defibrillator is a portable device used to treat cardiac arrests. It analyzes the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electrical shock to restore a normal heartbeat. Voice prompts make it easy for anyone to use. There are multiple devices in schools and public buildings in Westport, as well as outdoors.)
Mark adds, “I hope the other AEDs around town have been serviced, charged up, and hopefully never needed too.”
If you know of other working AEDs around in outdoor spaces, click “Comments” below.
But it’s very visible from Compo Beach. You know: the smokestack.
Now it’s undergoing a radical — and exciting — transformation.
Philanthropists Austin and Allison McChord are spending $410 million to remake the abandoned coal-fired power plant into a stunning 125-acre public park.
It will include 28 acres of walking trails, 1 3/4 miles of Long Island Sound waterfront access, classrooms, a pool, indoor climbing, bird watching, and much more.
Though the first phase will not open until next spring, last week the dramatic event space hosted the co-founder of YouTube, for a special meeting.
Manresa Island is ecologically important. Undeveloped portons include a coastal forest and intertidal estuaries — some of the last remaining undisturbed marine habitats on the Fairfield County coast.
Wetlands serve as breeding grounds for migratory birds, and are home to 200 or so bird species. Waters around the island are essential habitats for many fish.
The model for the adaptive reuse of industrial sites and resilient waterfronts globally — with climbing walls, an indoor water park, food vendors and an environment educational center, will be completed by 2030.
The other day, Westport journalist Dave Briggs headed to Manresa Island. Click here or below for his report.
Triple Threat Academy’s 2 weekend performances of “Peace, Love, and Cupcakes” at Saugatuck Congregational Church raised over $1,000 for charity.
The 11-member cast of 3rd through 9th graders — all from Westport — was directed by Jill Jaysen.
The two oldest actors, Ellie Rockwell (seen recently as Little Sally in Staples Players’ “Urinetown”) and Jordan Minnich, spearheaded an initiative to donate ticket sales and proceeds from a bake sale after each performance. They researched and chose Rachel’s Challenge, an organization founded in honor of Rachel Joy Scott, who, in her short life before the Columbine shooting, embodied the kindness and compassion that is at the heart of the PLC musical. Rachel’s life was tragically lost in the Columbine shooting. Rachel’s Challenge addresses the root causes of school violence, bullying, prejudice and self-harm through student wellness programs.
The lead, 4th grader Sophie Goldberg, is already represented by a New York youth agent. Other Triple Threat actors are also repped.
Other cast members were Olive Boehm, Adanna Bolu, Ariana Goldman, Johanna Lawton, Siena McLoughlin, Lola Rockwell, Maddy Shemesh and Zia Stokvis.
The audience included Triple Threat Academy founder and Staples graduate Cynthia Gibb; Triple Threat and Players alum Jamie Mann, and his mother, Triple Threat co-director Jill Mann. Staples Player Griffin Delmhorst ran lights.
Jamie Mann (Broadway’s “Stranger Things,” Netflix’s “Country Comfort”) will assist with Triple Threat’s summer acting camp and musical theater intensive program. They also offer an independent film project. Click here for details.
The Triple Threat “Peace, Love and Cupcakes” cast.
Sixty years ago, he and his band, the Animals, performed at Staples High School. I was in junior high — and I was there.
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